Vendée Globe

Slowly but surely – if hurtling down Pacific Ocean rollers at 19 knots can be called ‘slowly’ — the miles are being eaten away.

Third placed Sébastien Josse (BT), responsible for those aforementioned 19-knot boat speeds, has nibbled another seven miles out of Foncia’s lead over the past four hours between scheds. And so it continues across the lead group — two miles here, another four there. Even in second, and caught by the same high pressure zone, Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environment) has chewed a couple of miles off Mich Desj’s advantage.
Just a couple of miles can make a big difference elsewhere in the fleet, as Dee Caffari (Aviva, GBR) jumps back into 11th place ahead of Arnaud Boissieres, with a six-mile advantage as Akena Vérandas gybes north-east.
Brian Thompson (GBR), just over 100 miles ahead, is once again averaging speeds of over 14 knots on Bahrain Team Pindar after exhausting repairs to the forward structures — with Brian enjoying just four hours sleep over three days. Brian reported: "It's been a very tough few days and I'm pretty tired, but I've been careful to eat and drink as much as possible, to keep my energy levels up. I feel really pleased with how the repairs have gone and a big thanks to the shore team who were a massive support. The next few days will be crucial to see how it holds."
Jonny Malbon (Artemis, GBR) has now reached the West Australia Ice Gate. Malbon and the group of skippers west of 13th-placed Steve White (Toe in the Water GBR) are currently feeling the effects of a fairly active low to their south. Winds are averaging 40-50 knots, gusting to 65-70 knots, making for a cautious Christmas Eve.
But it’s not just the racing skippers who will be being careful tomorrow, 900 miles from the Australian coast Dominique Wavre was contemplating how to celebrate Christmas on board Temenos, as he carefully sailed the boat with her keel problems home. “I’m going to decorate the boat a bit and have a real little Christmas ceremony. For this I’ll choose a favourable moment where the boat is very stable. In any case, I haven’t invited many people to the party this year!”
Wavre may get a few Christmas greetings from other skippers in the race, as he is still in contact with several sailors:  “We swap news with each other. I’m following the race very closely and I am 100% behind what the others are experiencing.”


 

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